STAGE 1 CROSS PATH - Bergamo, Ponteranica, Alzano Lombardo, Nembro, Scanzorosciate
- Total Length: 28,2 km
- Difficulty by Foot: Hard
- Climb up: 930 m
The departure from the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Walls of the Upper Town of Bergamo represents only the beginning of a stage that never ceases to amaze: it crosses paths, changes the landscape and crosses places of other times and other (almost mountainous) altitudes. An immersion in the Regional Park of the Bergamo Hills, in the Maresana hill, up to the small ancient world of Olera, a medieval village in the Lower Seriana Valley. And again: the ancient Via Mercatorum and its Sanctuary of Zuccarello in Nembro. With a stop up to Scanzorosciate, for those who choose to go further.
The first stage starts from Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo Alta. After passing through the gate of Sant'Alessandro, the Way climbs towards Colle di San Vigilio, the best vantage point to enjoy the view of the Upper Town with a single glance, to take the panoramic path of via alle case Moroni and via del Rione from where you can enjoy a suggestive view of the terraced gardens of the city and the former Monastery of Astino. At this point the road follows the Quisa cycle path inside the Colli di Bergamo Regional Park to reach Colle dei Roccoli. From there, passing through the Galleria del Morla, built in the early 1900s and a border point between the city and the province of Bergamo, you take the road that runs alongside the stream of the same name. Continue towards the town hall of Ponteranica, pass the church of the same name and the Grotta di Lourdes sanctuary and, climbing uphill, you reach the locality of Rosciano. After passing Ca del Latte and the Maresana hill, you head towards the village of Olera, through the Via Crucis. The wonderful view and the silence that can be enjoyed from the churchyard of San Rocco deserve a break. From there you pass the hamlet of Burro and proceed towards the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Brumano and then take the CAI path n. 535 and go down to the locality of Lonno.
Head towards the Nembro center passing through the ancient via Mercatorum and crossing the Sanctuary of the Madonna dello Zuccarello.
From Nembro continue in the direction of Scanzorosciate, famous for the production of Moscato di Scanzo DOCG. Having skirted the Serio river, we proceed through the municipality of Villa di Serio until we reach the village of Scanzo.
POI: Historic funicular, Venetian Walls, Upper Town, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Church of San Rocco, Borgo di Olera, Zuccarello Sanctuary Museum
Natural POIs: San Vigilio, Case Moroni, Maresana, Parco dei Colli di Bergamo
Municipalities crossed: Bergamo, Ponteranica, Alzano Lombardo, Nembro, Scanzorosciate
CROSSED PATHS: Path of Charlemagne, Alta Via delle Grazie, Via Mercatorum
STAGE 1 CROSS PATH - Bergamo, Ponteranica, Alzano Lombardo, Nembro, Scanzorosciate
- Total Length: 28,2 km
- Difficulty by Foot: Hard
- Climb up: 930 m
The departure from the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Walls of the Upper Town of Bergamo represents only the beginning of a stage that never ceases to amaze: it crosses paths, changes the landscape and crosses places of other times and other (almost mountainous) altitudes. An immersion in the Regional Park of the Bergamo Hills, in the Maresana hill, up to the small ancient world of Olera, a medieval village in the Lower Seriana Valley. And again: the ancient Via Mercatorum and its Sanctuary of Zuccarello in Nembro. With a stop up to Scanzorosciate, for those who choose to go further.
The first stage starts from Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo Alta. After passing through the gate of Sant'Alessandro, the Way climbs towards Colle di San Vigilio, the best vantage point to enjoy the view of the Upper Town with a single glance, to take the panoramic path of via alle case Moroni and via del Rione from where you can enjoy a suggestive view of the terraced gardens of the city and the former Monastery of Astino. At this point the road follows the Quisa cycle path inside the Colli di Bergamo Regional Park to reach Colle dei Roccoli. From there, passing through the Galleria del Morla, built in the early 1900s and a border point between the city and the province of Bergamo, you take the road that runs alongside the stream of the same name. Continue towards the town hall of Ponteranica, pass the church of the same name and the Grotta di Lourdes sanctuary and, climbing uphill, you reach the locality of Rosciano. After passing Ca del Latte and the Maresana hill, you head towards the village of Olera, through the Via Crucis. The wonderful view and the silence that can be enjoyed from the churchyard of San Rocco deserve a break. From there you pass the hamlet of Burro and proceed towards the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Brumano and then take the CAI path n. 535 and go down to the locality of Lonno.
Head towards the Nembro center passing through the ancient via Mercatorum and crossing the Sanctuary of the Madonna dello Zuccarello.
From Nembro continue in the direction of Scanzorosciate, famous for the production of Moscato di Scanzo DOCG. Having skirted the Serio river, we proceed through the municipality of Villa di Serio until we reach the village of Scanzo.
POI: Historic funicular, Venetian Walls, Upper Town, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Church of San Rocco, Borgo di Olera, Zuccarello Sanctuary Museum
Natural POIs: San Vigilio, Case Moroni, Maresana, Parco dei Colli di Bergamo
Municipalities crossed: Bergamo, Ponteranica, Alzano Lombardo, Nembro, Scanzorosciate
CROSSED PATHS: Path of Charlemagne, Alta Via delle Grazie, Via Mercatorum